Photographic product



PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCT Filed Jan. 8, 1952 Len+icu|ar Layer Image-Receiving Layer Photosensil'ive Layer Backing Layer 20 Lenficular Layer |4 Image-Receiving Layer & amaaa aaaaaxa aaaxaa za' 5+ i p p i n 9 L e Phoi'osensi'Hve Layer *Backing Layer Lenficular Layer Phofosensifive Layer Image-Receiving Layer Backing Layer Color Screen INVENTOR FIG.4 g

ATTORNE S United States Patent PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCT Edwin H. Land, Cambridge, -Mass., assignor to Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application January 8, 1952,-Serial No. 265,413

22 Claims. (Cl. 95-4.)

This invention relates to photography and more particular'ly is concerned with a photographic product for carrying out a photographic transfer process.

An-object of the invention is to provide aphotosensitive film assembly in the nature of a self-developing film and including a layer which is provided, at least on one surface thereof, with a gridlike arrangement of a multiplicity of minute optical elements through which actinic light is adapted to be directed for exposure of a photosensitive layer included in the film assembly, and especially to provide a film assembly of this character wherein the minute optical elements are lenticules or wherein the minute optical elements are filter elements of a color screen.

Other objects of the invention are to provide as a photographic product a multilayered structure including at least a photosensitive silver halide layer, an imagereceiving layer, a transparent layer having a multiplicity of lenticulations on one surface thereof, and a rupturable container'holding a liquid processing reagent located between two of the layers of the product; to provide a photographic product adapted to have a photographic transfer image formed thereinand including a transparent support having-on one sidethereof a photosensitive silver halide layer and an image-receiving layer for a photo graphic transfer image and having'on the opposite side thereof a multiplicity of lenticulations; and to provide a photographic product of the character described including at-least a silver halide developer soluble in a'liquid processingrea'gent located Within the container.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a zphotographic film assernblycomprising a plurality of superposed layers andincluding at least a photosensitive-silver halide layer, animage-receiving-layerand a base forming an outermostlayer of said film assembly-and providing a backing layer, said film assembly also including a rupturable container holding a liquid processing reagent with the container located between the backing layer .and the next innermost layerof the' film assembly; ,to provide a film assembly of the nature described wherein :said backing layer is transparent or opaqueand said'film assembly is allowed to remain intact after processingor wherein said backing layer, including said container, is separated from said filmassembly after-processing; and in general to-provide photographic-products or film assemblies of the character set forth which may employ a stripping layer between the image-receiving layer and the photosensitive layer of the product.

Other objects of the invention will in part .be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the product possessing the features, properties and the relation ofcomponents which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

Fora fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed'desc'ription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

2,726,154 ,Patented Dec. 6, 19.55

ICE

is an Figure l is a schematic sectional view of a photographic product and illustrates the: invention in connection with a photosensitive film assembly having a lenticulated support;

Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of anotherembodiment of the photographic product of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a transparent support with a color screen associated'therewith and which is usable with any of the embodiments of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in place of the lenticulated support.

As is now well understood to the art, .a photographic transfer process may be utilized to form in an image-tor print-receiving layer a reverse image of a latent image contained in a photosensitive layer. In carrying out a silver halide photographic transfer process, a liquid composition comprising a silverhalide developer and a silver halide 'fixer may be substantially uniformly permeated into an exposed silver halide photosensitive layer. The liquid develops the latent image in the silver halide emulsion and forms a soluble silver complex, e. g., a thiosulphate or a thiocyanate with undeveloped silver halide, which is transferred in solution to an imageor printrece'iving layer in superposed relation to the photosensitive layer where this complex is developed to silver to provide the desired reverse image.

The present invention, as indicated, relates to film assemblies for carrying out a photographic transfer process and concerns an improved film structure utilizing a transparent support which carries a photosensitive layer and an image-receiving layer onone side thereof. Additionally, the invention concerns a film structure which associates a backing layer. with the film assembly. This backing layer provides an outermost layer of the product and permits both the photosensitive layer and the imagereceiving layer to be located on one side of a ruptu-rable container for a liquid processing composition. .In other words, the container may be located between the -bacle ing layer and thatlayer of the product which is directly adjacent the backing layer.

A-film assembly of this character possess a number of advantages. For example, it embodies all of the layers needed to carry out a transfer process in a composite structure of such nature that the'layers thereof are maintainable in superposed relationat least until formation of the desired reverse image. Such a construction is advantageous from the standpoint that it lendsitself to simplified camera design as it does not require separation of the layers for exposure purposes.

In addition, a construction of this type is especially adapted for providing a film assembly useful in color photography as well as in stereoscopic photography. A film assembly which may be used in either of the justmentioned photographic fields is made possible by utilizing a transparent support which is provided at least on one surface thereof with a gridlike arrangement of a multiplicity of minute optical elements and which supports a photosensitive layer and an image-receiving layer on a surface thereof. In'the case of a film useful for color work, these minute optical elements may be provided by lenticules or by a color screen formed of filter elements of conventional character. The lenticular arrangement is, of course, also especially suited for carrying out stereoscopic photography.

In a composite typeof film structure of the character indicated-the image-carrying layer may be made so thin, i. e., about .00001,,inch or of the order of a wavelength of "light, that effectively a structure is always provided which issu'bstantia'lly the'equivalent of placing the lenticular layer or the screen layerand the photosensitive layer next to each other. Such practice is advantageous since, in the case of a screen or lenticular process, parallax is kept to a minimum during taking or exposure and for viewing purposes is reduced over all other available systems. Furthermore, the composite structure, in so far as a transfer process is concerned, permits a construction wherein sidewise diffusion of the liquid undergoing transfer from one layer to another may be substantially eliminated. Another advantage attributable to a composite film structure for carrying out a transfer process resides in the fact that perfect registration of the screen or the lenticules with the photosensitive and imagecarrying layers, i. e., perfect registration for taking and viewing purposes, is assured.

In color work with lenticular type of film, appropriate filters are employed for taking and projection purposes. For example, the lenticular film is exposed through a conventional filter which has two or more sections of different color and which is located on the object side of a camera lens, while for viewing purposes the lenticular film is projected through a similar filter adapted to be located on the projection screen side of a projection lens.

By one practice, a stereoscopic pair of images of an object being photographed may be optically formed on the photosensitive layer of a lenticular film, mounted in a suitable camera, with the aid of a conventional binoculartype viewing device which makes use of prism and/or mirror means and which is mounted in optical alignment with the camera objective on the object side of said objective. A device of this nature is commonly known as a stereo-attachment.

A similar binocular device may be utilized for projecting onto a suitable screen developed stereoscopic image pairs formed in lenticular film. In this instance, the binocular device is located on the image side of the objective through which the developed film is projected and said binocular device is equipped with suitably different light-polarizing filters, for example, opposite plane polarizers, whereby the screen images will be formed with differently polarized light. This arrangement permits an observer who is wearing glasses or spectacles, having two suitably difierent light-polarizing lenses which are appropriately oriented, to view the left-eye image of a projected stereoscopic pair only with his left eye and to view the right-eye image of said projected image pair only with his right eye.

Other advantages are derived from a composite structure such as that described. In this connection, the use of a backing layer permits the container for the processing liquid to be located at a position where the contents thereof can only reach the photosensitive layer or the image-receiving layer after the liquid has permeated or penetrated through one or the other of these layers. In certain instances, such practice is desirable.

For example, in a transfer process of the type which involves the formation of a dye image in the imagereceiving layer by a dye coupling reaction, it is generally desirable to arrange the image-receiving layer with respect to the photosensitive layer so that liquid processing composition must first pass through the photosensitive layer before it can contact the image-receiving layer. -Such practice is advantageous for avoiding dye stain in the highlights of the transfer image in circumstances wherein a secondary color developer and a coupler in solution in liquid processing composition imbibed into a silver halide layer are utilized to develop latent image to silver and form a dye image in situ therewith, and wherein developer and coupler in excess of that required for said silver and dye development are transported in solution to an image-receiving layer where the unreacted developer is oxidized for coupling with the transported junreacted coupler to provide the desired dye image.

The present invention permits arrangement of the layers of the film assembly which facilitates carrying out practice of the nature just described in that it allows 'the photosensitive layer to be positioned next to the imagereceiving layer, which is located next to the transparent support of the film assembly, whereby the container for the liquid processing composition may be positioned between the backing layer and the photosensitive layer.

One embodiment of a film assembly 10, suitable for carrying out the invention, is illustrated in Fig. 1 and comprises a transparent support 11 provided on one surface thereof with a multiplicity of lenticules 12 and pro- 'vided on the other surface thereof with an image-receiving layer 14 and a photosensitive layer 15, the image-receiving layer being located next to the support 11. Additionally, the film assembly 10 includes a backing layer 16 which provides an outermost layer of the assembly and has a 'rupturable container 17 positioned between the backing layer 16 and the photosensitive layer 15. Container 17 is adapted to contain a suitable processing liquid, preferably of a viscous nature. Exposure of the film assembly '10 is through the support 11, the lenticules 12 thereof acting to suitably direct the light onto various portions of the photosensitive layer 15. In order to carry this out, the image-receiving layer 14 is of course of a transparent material. In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Fig. 1, the backing layer 16 may be opaque.

The liquid within the container 17 includes an organic film-forming agent, such for example as carboxymethyl cellulose, 'Ihis processing liquid is also a solvent for a silver halide developer and a silver halide fixer, both of which may be included in the liquid. Alternatively, the silver halide developer and/or fixer may be incorporated in some layer of the film assembly into which the processing reagent is penetrated.

The film assembly 10 may be in the form of cut film or in the form of roll film. In either instance, the backing layer 16 may be sealed along its longitudinal edges to the photosensitive layer 15 whereby a composite one-piece structure is provided. When used as roll film, two or more containers 17 will be mounted at spaced intervals on the backing layer. These intervals will be such that an individual container will be located adjacent one end of each picture frame of the film assembly.

In use, following exposure, the film assembly 10 is processed in the absence of actinic light by moving the film through a pair of pressure-applying rollers. These rollers rupture the container and spread its liquid content between the backing layer 16 and the photo-sensitive layer 15 to initiate the processing of the assembly. This processing is carried out in the absence of actinic light for a period of about one minute, after which the lenticular layer or transparent support 11, together with the image-receiving layer 14, is separated, as by stripping, from the photosensitive layer 15 and the backing layer 16. In this embodiment of the invention, the organic film-forming constituent of the processing composition is adapted to bond the photo-sensitive layer 15 to the backing layer 16 by a bond which is stronger than the bond between the photosensitive layer and the image-receiving layer.

In some instances, it may be desirable to provide a stripping layer between the image-receiving layer 14 and the photosensitive layer 15. Such a layer is indicated by the reference character 18 in Fig. 2, which discloses a film assembly 20 substantially similar in all other respects to the film assembly 10. The use of this stripping layer facilitates separation of the film unit in the manner desired, i. e., with the image-receiving layer adhered to the transparent support 11, since the stripping layer is selected to develop a greater bonding affinity for the photosensitive layer than for the image-receiving layer.

It is to be noted that in the structures shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the image-receiving layer is coated directly onto the transparent support and the photosensitive layer is coated on the outer surface of the image-receiving layer. The reverse of this practice is disclosed in Fig. 3 wherein a film assembly 30 is disclosed as having a transparent support 31 provided with lenticules 32 on one side theresmear- 54 of and carrying a photosensitive layer 35 and an imagereceiving layer 34 on the other side thereof. A container 37 is shown as disposed between the outermost surface of-the-layer34 and a backinglayer 36.

In the film assembly 30, all of the layers thereof may be retained together after processing, provided the backing layer is of a transparent character, or the backing layer and the container may be separated from the combined structure 31, 35, 34. Separation of the backing layer and the container 37 is of course necessary in instances where the backing layer 36 is opaque.

It has been discovered in carrying out a silver halide photographic transfer process that the density of the .positive image produced is much greater than the density of the negative. This intensification in the density of the positive image has been found to be of the order of five to times and it is because of this that it is possible to allow the negative and the positive images to remain in contact with each other. Of course, under these circumstances, the highlights of the positive will be grayed to some extent but this is generally unobjectionable,'particularly for projection purposes, due to the considerable diiference in density between the positvie and negative images.

As indicated, the invention is not limited to the use of lenticules in providing a grid like arrangement of a multiplicity of minute optical elements. In place of the lenticulated transparent support layers 11 or 31, a transparent support 41, having diiferently colored elements providing a color screen 43 on one surface thereof, may be employed. This arrangement is detailed in Fig. 4. The screen structure 43 is usable with any of the film assemblies heretofore detailed in lieu of the previously described lenticular supports. The color screen may comprise a single sheet of a suitable transparent material which has been dyed or stained to provide the color filters or screen elements 42 therethrough or it may, as shown in Fig. 4, comprise an undyed base 41 on one side of which color filters are carried. The color screen of the character indicated at 43 is of conventional design and is adapted to be constructed by Well known methods. For example, numerous filter screens of the type useful for carrying out the present invention and various methods whereby said screens may be formed are described in detail in the History of Color Photography, by Joseph S. Friedman, published in 1944 by the American Photographic Publishing Company, in chapters 12 and 13 thereof.

The transparent supports 11 and 31 are preferably formed of a conventional film base material such as a cellulos'ic ester or mixed ester, for example cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate or other materials which will form a continuous film for use in supporting a photosensitive element. The supports 11 and 31 are formed by conventional practices whereby to provide the lenticules thereon.

Organic plastic materials of the character mentioned in connection with the supports 11 and 31 may also be employed for the backing layer of the film assembly where, as in the assembly 30, the backing layer may be of a transparent character. Any suitable paper, for example kraft paper or baryta paper, may be employed for the backing layer of the film assembly in instances where said backing layer is opaque, such as in the film assembly 10.

The organic plastic materials of the character just mentioned are useful in forming the base layer 41 of the specific screen structure or screen support 43 of Fig. 4. The particular screen structure 43 of Fig. 4 is intended to illustrate a color screen formed by conventional methodssuch as those described in the previously referred to work of Joseph S. Friedman in his History of Color Photography. For example, the screen structure 43 may have the filter elements 42 thereof formed of lighttransmitting, colored, granular particles which are spread over and adhered to the surface of the transparent base 41 in a single layer, one particle thick, and with (1161118!- ticles in contactwith each other-in the -.mannerexempli fied by the so-called Autochrome plate of Lumiere. Alternatively, for example, the differently colored screen elements 42 "of the screen structure 43 may be :provided by appropriate dyeing and use of resists to provide a screen similar to that employed in the so-called Dufay.

process.

The image-receiving layer, such as the layer 14'or the layer 34, is adapted to be coated onto the surface on which it is supported. This coating, when dry, provides a matrix which supports a silver precipitating agent included in the coating. Thus, the layer 14 is applied to the support 11 by being coated thereon while' the image-receiving layer 34 :is coated onto the photosensitive layer 35.

It has been proposed to use, in the formationiof' the silver prints by transfer processing, certain compounds and elements whose presence during the v.processihasl-a desirable effect on the amount and character of ith'esilver precipitated during image formation. For this purpose, such materials as, for example, the metallic sulfides and selenides, the thiooxalates, the thioacetamides and others have been disclosed in my copending applications 'Serial No. 727,385, filed February "8, 1 947, for Photographic Product and Process, and Serial No. 164,908, filed May 29, 1950, for Photographic Silver Halide Transfer Product and Process. 'Other silver precipitating agents have been'proposed such, for example, as colloidal silver.

It has alsobeen disclosed in my said copending applications that the precipitation and aggregation of silver obtained by using the silver .precipitating'agents, including the above-mentioned materials, arevery greatly improved by providing as a vehicle for said agents .a-macros'copically continuous matrixvconsisting essentiallyof subma'croscopic agglomerates of particles of a water-insoluble, inorganic, chemically inert, adsorbent substance. The word submacroscopic refers to a class of sizes which includes as a subclass those sizes known as submicroscopic. The substance preferably'has a low coefficient of absorption for light as compared to silver and-the matrix formed therefrom is essentially free ofprotective colloid action "for silver. One example of such a matrix. is a layer of silica such as is formed by drying a'layerof-an aqueous dispersion of the silica aerogel available under the trade name Sa'n'tocel C.

One example of a suitable coating composition for providing the image-receiving layer is as follows: i

1% solution of'sodium'sulfide cc "280 Silica Aerogel grams 30 Solution containing 30 "g. cadmium acetate, 1 ,g. f

neutral lead-acetate and 30g. "zinc nitrate dissolved in cc. of water 'cc 92 While coated layers of this nature are shown in the just-noted copending applications as being applied "to a paper or sheet or'base, such as'baryta paper, it is .to be noted-that they may be applied with equal facility to the transparent supports of the film assembly shown herein or to a photosensitive layer. In the present invention these matrix-forming coatings are employed as the image-receiving layer for the reception of the transfer image. The transfer image provided in an i'mage receiving layer formed in accordance with the teachingsof said copending applications ranges from 'darkbrown to black and has good gray middle tones.

The photosensitive layer for any of the embodiments of the invention disclosed in the drawing may employ an emulsion like that of any of the commercially available photosensitive silver halide films. The products of-the present invention are particularly useful in improving the results obtained when the transferprocessis carriedout with one of the high-speed photosensitive silver halide emulsions such as the emulsion of the relatively highspeed orthochromatic films, e. g., Eastman Kodak Verichrome film, having an ASA speed rating of 0200 and an ASA exposure index rating in the daylight of 50, and the extremely high-speed panchromatic emulsions, e. g., Eastman Kodak Super XX Pan having an ASA speed rating of 0400 and an ASA exposure index rating in the daylight of 100, and Ansco Triple S Pan. The emulsion which provides the photosensitive layer is also coated on the surface which supports it, such for example as the image receiving layer 14 or the transparent lenticular support 31.

One suitable example of a processing reagent is as follows:

. Grams Water--- 1860 Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 117 Sodium sulfite 78 Sodium hydroxide 74.6 Sodium thiosulfate 14.5 Citric acid 38.5 Hydroquinone 52 The processing agent is prepared by dissolving the sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, for example the commercially available Hercules #1362 medium viscosity type, in the water in a mixer at room temperature, and the solution is mixed therein for approximately one hour. Thereafter, the sodium sulfite, sodium hydroxide, sodium thiosulfate and citric acid are added to the solution, the addition being effected in an inert atmosphere, for example of nitrogen. Upon dissolution of these materials, the hydroquinone is added and the solution is further mixed for an hour at approximately room temperature in a nonoxidizing atmosphere of nitrogen.

Other developing agents may be employed in place of the hydroquinone noted in the just foregoing example. For example, one of the following photographic developers may be employed: p-aminophenol hydrochloride; bromohydroquinone, chlorohydroquinone; diaminophenol hydrochloride; toluhydroquinone; monomethyl-p-aminophenol sulfate; a mixture consisting by Weight of onehalf hydroquinone and one-half p-hydroxyphenylaminoacetic acid; and a mixture consisting by Weight of onefourth hydroquinone and three-fourths p-hydroxyphenylaminoacetic acid.

The containers 17 and 37 are preferably inexpensive and disposable and so constructed as to be capable of retaining the liquid processing agent or composition therein for relatively long periods of time without vapor loss or oxidation. One example of a suitable container of this type is formed from a single multilayer sheet of material comprising three laminae. The inner lamina, which provides the inner surface of the container, is formed of a material which is chemically inert to the reagents in the processing agent and which is impervious to the liquid of the agent. One class of materials suitable for this purpose, particularly where the processing agent is an alkaline solution, is the polyvinyl acetals, and of the acetals, polyvinyl butyral is a preferred species. A composition comprising 60% to 72% by weight of polyvinyl butyral, 10% to 23% by weight of nitrocellulose, and approximately by weight of dibutyl sebacate is satisfactory as the inner lamina. The intermediate lamina is preferably impervious to the vapor of the processing agent and is formed, for example, of a metallic foil such as lead or silver foil. The outer or backing lamina is formed of a strong, deformable, relatively inexpensive sheet material such as a kraft paper.

A container may be made from a single sheet of the just described three-ply material by folding the same along its longitudinal axis and thereafter securing the end marginal portions and the overlying marginal portions of the two folded faces of the sheet one to the other whereby to provide a space or cavity for containing the processing liquid. The marginal portions of the overlying container walls along the long edges thereof which are removed from the fold are preferably sealed together by a bond which is weaker than the bond securing the end portions thereof. This may be effected by the control of heat and/or pressure employed for sealing said long edges of the container in conjunction with an overcoat of ethyl cellulose or ethyl cellulose and paraflin provided as a strip on the inner surface of one of the overlying container walls along said long edge thereof. As a result, the application of pressure to the opposite sides of the container will effect the rupture of this weaker bond along said long edges to permit discharge of the liquid from the container. To fill the container, it is possible to adhere together said long edges thereof and one of the end marginal portions and to then fill the container through the other end, after which the last mentioned end is sealed.

The stripping layer 18, shown in Fig. 2, comprises a coating of plastic material which is applied to the imagereceiving layer and over which the photosensitive layer is coated. Suitable film-forming materials for forming a thin coating of this nature comprise, for example, gum arabic, cellulose acetate hydrogen phthalate, polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, sodium alginate, and polymethacrylic acid. This stripping layer is adapted to minimize the adhesion between the photosensitive layer and the image-receiving layer whereby to assure the stripping of the photosensitive layer from the image-receiving layer after processing of the film assembly. As one specific example, the support 11, provided with image-carrying layer 14, has roll-coated on the outer surface of the image-receiving layer against a smooth surface such, for example, as the polished surface of a metal drum, a 5% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol in a layer whose thickness is of the order of .001 inch. An equivalent amount by weight of hydroxyethyl cellulose or polymethacrylic acid may be substituted for the polyvinyl alcohol of this example. Other examples of stripping layers suitable for this purpose are disclosed in my previously mentioned copcnding application Serial No. 164,908.

In instances where a stripping layer is employed, as in the film assembly 20, it may be desirable to secure the image-receiving layer 14, stripping layer 18 and photosensitive layer 15 in superposed relation by weaker bonding means than those described. The bond strength may be decreased by the use of water-soluble compounds of low molecular weight, such as sugar or appropriate salts, which are incorporated in the stripping layer as in either or both surfaces thereof or substantially uniformly throughout the layer.

On the other hand, when the photosensitive layer is to be separated from the film assembly, it may be desirable to cause the backing layer to become adhered to the photosensitive layer by a bond which is stronger than that ordinarily provided between these two layers by the organic film-forming material contained in the liquid processing composition which is spread between the photosensitive and backing layers. This may be accomplished by incorporating, at least in the surface of the photosensitive layer and/or backing layer, a substance which is capable of cross-linking the film-forming material of the liquid processing composition. Lead salts are well known for this purpose and neutral lead acetate may be named as a preferred crosslinking substance.

It will be realized that in some instances it may be desirable to simultaneously employ both of the just-described practices for varying the bond strength between the superposed layers, and such use is deemed to fall within the scope of this invention.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the use and operation of the film assemblies of the invention will be thoroughly apparent. Each of the film assemblies 10, 20 and 30, whether equipped with a transparent support having lenticules thereon or a support providing a color screen, will be exposed through the support. Processing of the exposed film assembly may, as previously noted, be

area-1'54 carried out in the absence of actinic light bymoving the filinthrough pressure-applying rolls which rupture the container of the film assembly and spread its liquid content between the backing layer'o-f the assembly and that layer which is next to the backing layer. Imbibition of the spread liquid processing composition is also carried out in the absence of actinic light for ,a period of about a minute. The film assemblies and 20, regardless of whether the transparent support through which exposure was made is a lenticular layer or a color screen, are separated so that the image-receiving layer and the transparent support remain adhered together. In the case of the film assembly 30, no separation is required for the reasons heretofore set forth.

While embodiments of the invention making use of a lenticular support have been illustrated with the lenticules thereof forming an outer surface of a film assembly, it is possible to employ a construction and arrangement wherein the lenticular side of the transparent support is located inwardly of the outer surface of the film assembly. As will be understood, where this practice is followed, there should preferably be one layer between the transparent lenticular support and the photosensitive layer which has eithera higher or a lower index of refraction than the material of the support. The index of refraction of this last-mentioned layer will determine whether the lenticules are of concave'or convex shape when viewed from the exposure side of the film assembly.

When the lenticular surface is positioned inwardly in the film assembly 16 or 29, the image-receiving layer itself may serve to carry out the just-mentioned arrangement provided there is a sufficient difference inrefractive-indices between the lenticular transparent support andthe imagecarrying layer. On the other hand, if the needed difference in'refractive indices is lacking, an extra layer of suitable transparent material may be located between the imagereceiving layer. and the photosensitive layer in the film assemblies illustrated'in Figs. 1 and 2. A similarpract'ice may be carried out with thefilm assembly 'by locating between the lenticular transparent support 31 and the photosensitive layer 35 a transparent layer having an index of refraction different from thatof the transparent lenticular support.

Since certain-changes may be'rnade in the'above product without departing from the scope of the invention hereininvolved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted'asillustrativeand notin a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. A photographic product comprising "a multilayer structure and including at least a photosensitive silver halidelayer, an image-receiving layer, a transparent layer having a multiplicity of lenticulations on one surface thereofand constituting a lenticular layer, anotherlayer which provides an outer layer of said product, and'a' rupturable container holding a liquid processing reagent, the layers of said product being superposed with said photosensitive and image-receiving'layers being carried by one surface of said lenticular layer and with said outer layer located to face that side of said lenticular'layer which carries said photosensitive and image-receiving layers whereby the two last-mentioned layers are positioned between said lenticular layerand said outer layer, said container being located adjacent'that surface ofsai'd outer layer which is the nearer to sajid lenticular layer" and between said outer layer and that layer of said product next adj'acent'to'the outer layer at a position for releasin'g'its liquid content therebetween upon rupture of the container for spreading ofsaid liquid'in contact with said outer layer and said layer of said-product next adjacent thereto and for p'ermeation at least into said photosensitive layer, said product containing-at least a silver halide developer soluble in said reagent and rendered effective, upon'release of'sai'd liquid, for 'absorption into said photosensitive layer to develop latent image therein and form-as a result of said development "a differential disposition-of image-forming components for transfer, by imbibition, to said image-receiving layer for providing therein a reverse image of said latent image, said lenticular layer and at least said image-receiving layer being secured together for separation-as a unit from said product.

2. A photographic product comprising a multilayer structure and including at least a photosensitive silver halide layer, an image-receiving layer, a transparent layer having a multiplicity of lenticulations on one surface thereof and constituting a lenticular layer, another layer which provides an outer layer of said product, and a rupturable container holding a liquid processing reagent, the layers of said product being superposed so that said photosensitiv'e, image-receiving and lenticular-layers are located on one side of said outer layer with the lenticular layer positioned the farthest away from said outer layer and with said photosensitive and image-receiving layers supported by said lenticular layer, each layer of said product, at least on the side of said photosensitive layer which -is located the farthest awayfrom said outer layer, being substantially transparent whereby light directed throughsaid lenticular layer from the side thereof farthest removed from said outer layer istransmitted onto said photosensitive layer to effect the exposure of the photosensitive layer, said container being located adjacent that surface of said outer layer which is the nearer to said lenticularlayer and between said outer layer and that layer of said product next adjacent to the outer layer at a position forreleasing its liquid content therebetween upon ruptureof the containerfor spreading of said liquid in contact with said outer layer and said layer of said product next adjacent thereto and for permeation at least into said photosensitive .layer, said-product containing at least a silver halidedevelo'per soluble .in said reagent and rendered effective, upon release of said liquid, for absorption into said photosensitive layer to develop latent image therein and formas a result of said development a differential disposition ofimage-forming components for transfer, by imbibition, to said image-receiving layer for providing therein a' reverse image-of said latent image, said lenticular layer and at least said image-receiving layer being secured together for separation as a unit'fromsaid product.

3. A photographic product as defined in claim 1 wherein said image-receiving layer is substantially transparent and-is'positioned nextto said lenticular layer.

. 4. A photographicproduct'as defined in claim 2 whereinsaid image-recervinglayerhas one side thereof in contact with said lenticular layer and an opposite side thereof in contact with said photosensitive layer, and wherein said image-receiving layer-and said lenticular layer are separable as a unit from said product.

5.v A photographic product-as defined in-claim 4 wherein said product,v in-addition-to a silver halide developer, includes a silver halide fixer also soluble in said reagent and capable of-forming, 'with unexposed 'silver halide," a

of said lenticula'r'layer which is located 't'he'nearer to saidouter layer.

8. A photographic product as defined in claim 2 wherein-sa'id photosensitive layer is located between said lenticularla'yer' and'sa'idimage-receiving layer and has opposite surfaces'thereof respectivelyin contact with saidlent-icular layer'and 'said-iiria-ge-receiving layer, and wherein said lenticular layer photose'nsitive layer and said image-re ceiving layer are bodily separable as a unit from said prod;

1 1 net and said image-receiving layer is substantially transparent.

9. A photographic product as defined in claim 8 wherein said product, in addition to a silver halide developer, includes a silver halide fixer also soluble in said reagent and capable of forming, with unexposed silver halide, a differential disposition of silver complex for transfer to said image-receiving layer.

10. A photographic film assembly comprising a multilayer structure and including at least a first and a substantially transparent outer layer, a substantially transparent photosensitive silver halide layer and a substantially transparent image-receiving layer located on one side of said outer layer and with respect to each other so that light directed onto the outer side of said first outer layer is transmitted therethrough and to said photosensitive layer for effecting exposure thereof, a second outer layer providing a backing layer, and a rupturable container holding a liquid processing reagent, said film assembly containing at least a silver halide developer soluble in said reagent and rendered effective, upon release of said liquid, for absorption into said photosensitive layer to develop latent image therein and form as a result of said development a differential disposition of image-forming components for transfer, by imbibition, to said image-receiving layer for providing therein a reverse image of said latent image, the layers of said film assembly being superposed so that said backing layer is located in spaced relation to said first outer layer and said photosensitive and image-receiving layers are located between said outer layers, said photosensitive and image-receiving layers being so carried by said first outer layer that at least said image-receiving layer and said first outer layer are separable as a unit from said film assembly whereby an image in said image-receiving layer is viewable by transmitted light directed onto the image-receiving layer from the side thereof farthest removed from the first outer layer and passing through said image-receiving layer and said first outer layer, said container being located between said backing layer and that layer of said film assembly next adjacent thereto and being carried by one of the lastmentioned layers at a position for releasing its liquid content therebetween upon rupture of the container for spreading of said liquid in contact with said backing layer and the layer next adjacent thereto and for permeation at least into said photosensitive layer.

11. A photographic film assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said first outer layer and at least said imagereceiving layer are secured together for separation as a unit from said product.

12. A photographic product as defined in claim 10 wherein said image-receiving layer is located next to said first-mentioned outer layer.

13. A photographic product as defined in claim 10 wherein said image-receiving layer has one side thereof in contact with said first-mentioned outer layer and the opposite side thereof in contact with said photosensitive layer.

14. A photographic product as defined in claim 10 wherein said photosensitive layer has one side thereof in contact with said first-mentioned outer layer and the opposite side thereof in contact with said image-receiving layer.

15. A photographic product as defined in claim 10 wherein said second outer layer which provides said backing layer is substantially opaque.

16. A photographic product as defined in claim 10 wherein said second outer layer is substantially transparent.

17. A photographic film assembly comprising a multilayer structure and including at least a photosensitive silver halide layer, an image-receiving layer, a first layer provided on at least one side thereof with means for modifying light transmitted through said first layerand comprising a gridlike arrangement of a multiplicity of minute optical elements, a second layer providing a backing layer, and a rupturable container holding a liquid processing reagent, the layers of said film assembly being superposed with said photosensitive and image-receiving layers being carried by one surface of said first layer and with said backing layer located to face that side of said first layer which carries said photosensitive and imagereceiving layers whereby to provide an outermost layer of said product with said photosensitive and image-receiving layers positioned between said first layer and said backing layer, each layer of said product, at least on the side of said photosensitive layer which is located the farthest away from said backing layer and including said first layer, being substantially transparent whereby light directed through said first layer from the side thereof farthest removed from said backing layer is transmitted onto said photosensitive layer to effect the exposure of the photosensitive layer, said container being located between said backing layer and the layer of said product next adjacent thereto at a position for releasing its liquid content therebetween upon rupture of the container for spreading of said liquid in contact with said backing layer and said layer of said product next adjacent thereto and for permeation at least into said photosensitive layer, said film assembly containing at least a silver halide developer soluble in said reagent and rendered effective, upon release of said liquid, for absorption into said photosensitive layer to develop latent image therein and form as a result of said development a differential disposition of imageforming components for transfer, by imbibition, to said image-receiving layer for providing therein a reverse image of said latent image.

18. A photographic film assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein said image-receiving layer is located adjacent the side of said first layer which is nearest said backing layer and said photosensitive layer is located in contact with the side of said image-receiving layer furthest removed from said first layer and wherein said first layer and at least said image-receiving layer are secured together for separation as a unit from said product.

19. A photographic film assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein said photosensitive layer is positioned adjacent that surface of said first layer which is nearest said backing layer and wherein said image-receiving layer is substantially transparent and is positioned in contact with that surface of said photosensitive layer which is furthest removed from said first layer.

20. In a photographic product as defined in claim 2, a multilayered structure having each layer thereof formed of an elongated, flexible and rollable sheet material and having a plurality of rupturable containers carried by said product between said outer layer and that layer of said product next adjacent to said outer layer at spaced intervals measured in a direction lengthwise of said product, each container extending transversely between said layers and being positioned so as to discharge the liquid content thereof in the same direction lengthwise of said product upon rupture of the container, the spacing between each pair of containers constituting a film frame and each container holding liquid in a quantity sufficient to process similar areas of the superposed photosensitive and imagereceiving layers which lie within said frame and which provide the image areas thereof.

21. In a photographic product as defined in claim 10, a multilayered structure having each superposed layer thereof formed of an elongated, flexible and rollable sheet material and having a plurality of rupturable containers carried by said product between said backing layer and that layer of said product next adjacent to said backing layer, said containers being located at spaced intervals measured in a direction lengthwise of said product with each container extending transversely between said backing layer and that layer next adjacent thereto and said containers being so positioned that the liquid content of each container is dischargeable in the same direction wherein all superposed layers of said product are at least 10 temporarily attached together and wherein the multilayered structure provided by said superposed layers is characterized by being rollable into a roll and maintainable in rolled condition prior to use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Land Feb. 27, Land Aug. 7, Van Der Grinten et a1. July 8, Buskes et al. July 8,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 13, Great Britain Sept. 6, France Sept. 8, 

1. A PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCT COMPRISING A MULTILAYER STRUCTURE AND INCLUDING AT LEAST A PHOTOSENSITIVE SILVER HALIDE LAYER, AN IMAGE-RECEIVING LAYER, A TRANSPARENT LAYER HAVING A MULTIPLICITY OF LENTICULATIONS ON ONE SURFACE THEREOF AND CONSTITUTING A LENTICULAR LAYER, ANOTHER LAYER WHICH PROVIDES AN OUTER LAYER OF SAID PRODUCT, AND RUPTURABLE CONTAINER HOLDING A LIQUID PROCESSING REAGENT, THE LAYERS OF SAID PRODUCT BEING SUPERPOSED WITH SAID PHOTOSENSITIVE AND IMAGE-RECEIVING LAYERS BEING CARRIED BY ONE SURFACE OF SAID LENTICULAR LAYER AND WITH SAID OUTER LAYER LOCATED TO FACE THAT SIDE OF SAID LENTICULAR LAYER WHICH CARRIES SAID PHOTOSENSITIVE AND IMAGE-RECEIVING LAYERS WHEREBY THE TWO LAST-MENTIONED LAYERS ARE POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID LENTICULAR LAYER AND SAID OUTER LAYER, SAID CONTAINER BEING LOCATED ADJACENT THAT SURFACE OF SAID OUTER LAYER WHICH IS THE NEARER TO SAID LENTICULAR LAYER AND BETWEEN SAID OUTER LAYER AND THAT LAYER OF SAID PRODUCT NEXT ADJACENT TO THE OUTER LAYER AT A POSITION FOR RELEASING ITS LIQUID CONTENT THEREBETWEEN UPON RUPTURE OF THE CONTAINER FOR SPREADING OF SAID LIQUID IN CONTACT WITH SAID OUTER LAYER AND SAID LAYER OF SAID PRODUCT NEXT ADJACENT THERETO AND FOR PERMEATION AT LEAST INTO SAID PHOTOSENSITIVE LAYER, SAID PRODUCT CONTAINING AT LEAST A SILVER HALIDE DEVELOPER SOLUBLE IN SAID REAGENT AND RENDERED EFFECTIVE, UPON RELEASE OF SAID LIQUID, FOR ABSORPTION INTO SAID PHOTOSENSITIVE LAYER TO DEVELOP LATENT IMAGE THEREIN AND FORM AS A RESULT OF SAID DEVELOPMENT A DIFFERENTIAL DISPOSITION OF IMAGE-FORMING COMPONENTS FOR TRANSFER, BY IMBIBITION, TO SAID IMAGE-RECEIVING LAYER FOR PROVIDING THEREIN A REVERSE IMAGE OF SAID LATENT IMAGE, SAID LENTICULAR LAYER AND AT LEAST SAID IMAGE-RECEIVING LAYER BEING SECURED TOGETHER FOR SEPARATION AS A UNIT FROM SAID PRODUCT. 